Featured Country: Scotland Although technically part of the U.K. and not an independent country, Scotland has traditions and a culture of its own. Home to more than 5 million people (and 800 islands), Scotland is famous for kilts, bagpipes, and the Loch Ness Monster. It's loved by travelers for the beautiful scenery, Cairngorm Mountains, and historical sites. Scotland is located directly above England. The largest city is Glasgow, and the capital, Edinburgh, is second. Because Scotland is part of the U.K., monetary transactions use the British pound. The standard greeting in Scotland is "hallo." English and Scottish (Gaelic) are the official languages. The Scottish Gaelic greeting is "madainn mhath." All citizens can speak English, although 65,000 Scots claim to speak Scottish Gaelic as well. Scottish is now the first language in the western isles with about 30,000 speakers. Well, those are a few nuts and bolts. Keep reading for more info on Scotland, as well as other travelers' experiences in the country. What's in this issue? Scotland's Top Attractions Featured Content What our Insiders Say Airfare Deals Accommodation Info From the Bookshelf Links & Resources Write an Article and Tell a Friend Going to Scotland? Get around on a Eurail Pass! Why Use a Rail Pass to Travel Around Europe? There's no better way to travel the U.K. than with a rail pass! Train travel allows you to meet both locals and backpackers alike. We've thought of some reasons why you should go by rail the next time you hit Europe, and we'll even help you sort out which pass is best for you. More information on European train travel Check out the prices on a Britrail pass or a Freedom of Scotland Pass. Did you know that point-to-point tickets are also available for purchase online? Check out our great prices on single trip tickets. Scotland's Top Attractions What makes Scotland interesting? Why do thousands of travelers head to Scotland every year? Check out our list of the top three "must do" attractions! Glasgow The largest city in Scotland, Glasgow is also its cultural center. If you're looking for wild nightlife, artsy museums or just a place to soak it all in, Glasgow is the place to go. It's also the best shopping in the U.K. outside of London. Edinburgh As Scotland's capital, Edinburgh is an eclectic mix of young professionals, members of the Scottish government, and tourists, all set to the backdrop of the impressively historic countryside. Because of its proximity to London, it is visited more frequently by those who only have a short amount of time to spend in Scotland. In the summer, it's also home to the Fringe Festival. Scottish Castles If the big one towering over Edinburgh isn't enough, keep wandering around the countryside, looking at ruins and learning about Scotland's violent history. There are also modern castles from the 19th century, although they had no defensive purpose and may be better described as mansions. Back to top FEATURED CONTENT The Edinburgh Festival Travel Guide - Read up on the largest arts festival on the planet - the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Innis na Druineach - Paul Sentobe heads to the "cradle of Christianity" - an island off the Scottish coast. The Glasgow Salsa - Jennifer Arthur shakes her stuff to a Cuban beat...in Glasgow. If you would like to submit an article on your travel experiences, check out our Writer's Guidelines, then send it along. Back to top WHAT OUR INSIDERS SAY Those who know what the guidebooks don't give you their tips on traveling in Scotland. Peter Grace, The Angus Glens and Coastal Paths I walk in the Angus Clens most weeks and visit the Angus/Aberdeenshire coast regularly. Glen Clova leads on to Glen Doll, a climbing centre, with its spectacular Corrie Fee, a glacial circ. One can walk up the cliffs by a waterfall to reach a Monroe(Hill above 3000 feet) called Mayer. Clova is approached from Kirriemuir, the birthplace of J.M. Barrie of Peter Pan fame. I live in Brechin, a sleepy little town where one can learn about the Picts, the indigenous people of this part of Scotland. Two Glens are accessible from Brechin: Glen Lethnot with its single track road takes you far from the madding crowds and Glen Esk which offers more gentle scenery but with testing walks on both sides. At the head of Glen Esk is Loch Lee from which one can walk past The Queens Well (this is Queen Victoria's country) to climb the most easterly Monroe called Mount Keen. Also from Brechin one can drive over the Cairn o'Mount, an old military road, with breathtaking views, and over to Deeside, the Heart of Queen Victoria's Scotland. Stay on the south side of the River Dee and take the road to Loch Muick. From there, one can walk over the hills to Glen Doll or, on the north side of the loch up Lochnagar, which is a mountain not a lake. From the top one can see all the Cairngorm Plateau on a clear day. I must also mention the coastal paths from Arbroath to Stonehaven. Wide beaches with no a building to be seen and cliffs to test both your lungs and your knowledge of geology. Debra Brown, Driving in the Highlands The roads are about 2/3 of the size of back roads in the U.S. There's really only one main road that circles along the ocean (cliffs, drop offs etc). BE CAREFUL! Graham Hamilton, Save at Sterling Attractions Once you have visited one of the many attractions, hold on to your entry ticket then show it at the next attraction and you will gain a 10% discount on entry through all the town's attractions. Back to top AIRFARE DEALS The BootsnAll TripPlanner can book your around-the-world flights. Plan and book your international trip here! When searching for multi-destination air tickets, the BootsnAll TripPlanner is tops. After using the TripPlanner to get an idea of the itinerary you want, be sure to submit it to us and talk to our counselors about fine-tuning your trip. We found some good R-T-W deals that stopped in Scotland: $1580 US Washington D.C. - London - Glasgow - London - Abu Dhabi - Bangkok - Hong Kong - Washington D.C. $3178 US Charlotte - London - Edinburgh - London - Dubai - Male (Maldive Is.) - Colombo - Singapore - Beijing - New York - Rio de Janeiro - Los Angeles - Charlotte If you are looking for single destination tickets, head to the International Airfare Center. You can search via destination or departure city. Here are some examples of what we found: $578 US Raleigh - Edinburgh $618 US San Antonio - Edinburgh Now, log on to the TripPlanner or International Airfares and put together an itinerary! More Specials & Deals The only thing better than flying to Scotland is getting a bloody good deal on the ticket. We work with other companies to bring you low, hard-to-beat round-trip fares, to help you fly not only to Scotland, but to wherever you want to go: Cheap Ticket Links Back to top SCOTLAND HOSTELS Hostels are a great way to stay when you're traveling in Scotland. Staying in hostels when you travel not only helps your budget, it is a unique way to enhance your trip. Meet new people, have new experiences; with our Hostels section you can learn about hostels and book your bed online. Scotland Hostels Edinburgh Hostels Glasgow Hostels Visit the Hostel Section Back to top FROM THE BOOKSHELF | Scotland Read up before you go! Here is a list of the most popular guidebooks and literature/non-traditional guidebooks. For your convenience, the books are available on BootsnAll through our bookstore. Traditional Guidebooks: Fodor's Scotland, 19th Edition, by Fodor's The Rough Guide to Scotland, 5th Edition, by Rob Humphreys and Donald Reid In Search of Ancient Scotland, A Guide for The Independent Traveler, by Gerald M. Ruzicki, Dorothy A. Ruzicki, and Dodie Ruzicki Travel Literature/Non-Traditional Guidebooks: Scotland the Best, by Peter Irvine How the Scots Invented the Modern World: The True Story of How Western Europe's Poorest Nation Created Our World & Everything in It, by Arthur Herman A Traveller's History of Scotland, 5th Edition, by Andrew Fisher Back to top LINKS & RESOURCES Use the following sites to learn more about Scotland, what it offers to travelers, and how to plan your trip. Rampant Scotland The be all and end all of what you need to know about Scotland, if you aren't overwhelmed by all the links. Scotland's National Tourism Board The tourism board gets their say. Look at pictures, check out maps and figure out where you want to go. Scottish Gaelic Although Scottish Gaelic is only spoken by 80,000 people, it still remains a large part of Scottish culture. Shinty Read about Scotland's national sport that's unique to the country. Scottish History Learn some history and get the answers to all your U.K./Scotland/England questions. Back to top WRITE AN ARTICLE If you have a story of your own that you would like to submit on Scotland, have a look at BootsnAll's Writer's Guidelines: http://writers.BootsnAll.com And then send it along. We're always looking for new content and new perspectives, and we hope to get yours soon. TELL A FRIEND If you feel that BootsnAll.com is a valuable resource, or that others might think so, please tell your friends about us. As many of you know, we respond personally to every email we receive in an ongoing effort to build a true traveller's community. Many have responded positively. If you have comments both positive and constructive, we would love to hear them. Tell us what we have done well and how we can improve. We would appreciate it greatly. Back to top